The Skoda Octavia RS has at all times presented a superb mixture of on a regular basis usability and practicality, at the side of a valuable flip of generation and easy dealing with, so the coming of a closely upgraded model is a obese trade in.
For the original model, a midlife makeover for the fourth-generation fashion that introduced in 2020, the appearance were tweaked, the infotainment has been progressed, and the height energy has been higher by way of 15kW.
We took the revised RS in wagon method for a excellent thrash around the Isle of Guy, on immense divisions of the world-famous Snaefell Mountain Direction that methods the course of the once a year TT match, to determine if it’s nonetheless alike the manage of its elegance.
How does the Skoda Octavia evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Skoda Octavia towards in a similar way sized cars.
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Octavia
How a lot does the Skoda Octavia value?
Pricing for the revised 2025 Skoda Octavia dimension used to be announced in October, however just for the entry-level Make a selection liftback and wagon, which set in in Australia this occasion. Future pricing for the utmost extra unchanged at beneath $44,000 drive-way, the previous in fact will get a $1000 payment snip in comparison to the bottom Taste liftback it replaces.
Costs for the up to date 2025 Skoda Octavia RS dimension haven’t been introduced forward of its arrival after March. The outgoing Octavia RS with 180kW and a smaller infotainment gadget is priced at $56,990 drive-away as a liftback and $58,490 drive-away in wagon method.
| Type | Force-away payment |
|---|---|
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Make a selection liftback | $41,490 (unwell $1000 on outgoing Taste) |
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Make a selection wagon | $43,990 (unchanged) |
| 2025 Skoda Octavia RS liftback | TBC |
| 2025 Skoda Octavia RS wagon | TBC |
We’re hopeful the pristine RS received’t include a sticker-price hike, however we’ll wait to peer whether or not Skoda Australia maintains its place as a sub-$60,000 mid-sized efficiency vehicle discount.
To peer how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the contest, take a look at our comparison tool
What’s the Skoda Octavia like at the within?
Superb, with a pretty mix of sporty-looking textures and fabrics, a neat integration of tech, some actual ocular passion to the dashboard fascia, and extra practicality than it’s essential to shake a (very obese) stick at.
Well-known weapon within the armoury of the pristine RS is the 13-inch infotainment gadget. It is a gigantic growth on what went ahead of, with intuitive menu layouts, hasty responses to finger prods and swipe inputs, and a normal graphical orderliness that’s simple at the optical.
After all, in the event you don’t love it, next each Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will also be configured to the primary display wirelessly.
Higher nonetheless, Skoda insists on conserving bodily buttons, so year we will’t say your whole dealings with the settings enroute the Octavia RS will probably be performed in a touchscreen-free type, it’s somewhat intuitive to utility at the journey due to the locker of shortcut switches above the central wind vents, certainly one of which is the drive-mode selector.
For this up to date vehicle, there’s additionally a to hand 15-Watt wi-fi smartphone charging dwelling within the cubby segment of the transmission tunnel, year the search of the ten.25-inch virtual software panel has been sharpened.
In different places, subject matter trait all over the Octavia’s passenger compartment is solely lavish, year the racier styling cues of the RS – the distinction crimson sewing at the sculpted bucket seats and graceful door playing cards, the carbon-look end to the centre of the sprint, and the utility of Unlit Chrome for the entire metal surfaces – prepared the cabin off a deal with.
And next there’s the area inside of. There’s whole hectares of the stuff.
Rear-seat passenger room is beneficiant nearly to a fault, whether or not you’re within the liftback or the wagon, or even taller visitors received’t aim with knee- or headroom.
Past this, the boot of the usual Octavia RS is a big 600 litres with all seats in utility, emerging to 1555 litres with the second one row folded away (the backrests are fracture 60:40), however the wagon is supplied with not anything scale down of a cave for a shipment bay – 640 litres with all seats preoccupied, 1700 litres at its most.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
There’s simply the only selection: the usual 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
This, in a lot of guises, has powered many merchandise within the Volkswagen Staff for a few years now, and continues to take action with difference lately.
On this Skoda software, it has a homogeneous prepared of numbers to the original Volkswagen Golfing GTI: 195kW and 370Nm, dropped at the entrance wheels by the use of a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch computerized transmission and an electronically managed limited-slip differential.
| Specs | Skoda Octavia RS |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG auto |
| Energy | 195kW |
| Torque | 370Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 6.4 seconds (liftback), 6.5 seconds (wagon) |
| Lead take | 250km/h |
| Pushed wheels | Entrance, with digital LSD |
| Weight | 1520-1582kg |
| Gas financial system (claimed) | 6.9-7.1L/100km |
| Gas financial system (as examined) | 13.1L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 51.5 litres |
| Gas requirement | 95-98 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 158-163g/km |
| Emissions usual | Euro 6e |
Elevating the output of the two.0-litre engine within the Octavia RS from 180kW prior to now to a pristine height of 195kW has trimmed the 0-100km/h occasions of each frame variants by way of two-tenths of a 2nd. Consequently, the liftback can do the dash in 6.4 seconds and the wagon is solely at the back of at 6.5 seconds.
To peer how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the contest, take a look at our comparison tool
How does the Skoda Octavia force?
So long as you needless to say the Octavia RS has at all times been located as a speedy but at ease and approachable vehicle, instead than an out-and-out terrier of a sizzling hatch with inflexible suspense and a major perspective sickness, next you’re going to adore this obese Skoda.
Extra pertinently, that spare 15kW of energy has truly liberated an difference field to the Octavia RS.
We’ll get the negatives out of the way in which first of all. To start with, there is not any handbook choice to any extent further, even supposing that’s lengthy been the case in Australia.
This 2.0-litre drivetrain is just provided with the seven-speed DSG and that does rob a petite stage of driver-car intimacy from the enjoy with regards to hurling the RS alongside a twisting, unfilled street – particularly because the paddle shifts at the otherwise-splendid three-spoke guidance wheel are of the in most cases stunted and malnourished Volkswagen Staff plastic stub sort.
See Alfa Romeo’s automobiles for the way you do right kind paddle shifts in an inexpensive efficiency vehicle.
And in the event you completely push the Skoda to its limits, next you might be in the long run going to search out its chassis isn’t as honed and sleek as one thing like a Honda Civic Sort R’s or Hyundai i30 N’s.
Although the RS has 15mm-lower, sports-tuned suspense when in comparison to any alternative Octavia, it’s nonetheless a set-up with a point extra comfort-promoting squidge in it than you’d to find on many related sizzling hatchbacks.
Most likely one key manifestation of that is that with the spare energy of the upgraded four-cylinder turbo engine, we had one or two events – leathering out of a junction, for example, or accelerating brittle from 50km/h year on a lumpy ascent – the place the entrance wheels have been scrabbling desperately for traction, even with the entire digital aids switched on.
There have been prior to now 4×4 variations of the Octavia RS, and this one can be even higher with the rear wheels dealing with one of the vital grunt in addition to the fronts.
Typically, on the other hand, it’s a super-sweet factor to get on with. It will not be essentially the most exciting efficiency vehicle you’ll ever force, however the Skoda continues to be critically succesful within the bends, conserving superb regulate of its frame and its 19-inch wheels, and maximising what clasp it has to incredible impact.
The guidance is superbly judged too, with plenty really feel, weighting and herbal reaction to manufacture minutely adjusting the Octavia’s stance in corners an involving affair.
That differential makes a excess to traction out of bends, too, and there’s even an attractive noise to the RS due to a sports activities exhaust with a little extra bark than prior to now.
At the flipside, as an on a regular basis proposition, the RS works in addition to any alternative Skoda Octavia. Or, in alternative phrases, it’s probably the most at ease and enjoyable sporty automobiles you’ll force, while you’re now not within the temper for a thrash.
There’s an solution to are compatible Dynamic Chassis Keep watch over (DCC) adjustable dampers, which our verify wagon had, however in truth the usual suspense do business in up a wonderful steadiness of pliancy and regulate, and as DCC could be a four-figure choice it’s simply now not importance it.
However in relation to the cosseting nature of the experience, the way in which the automobile isolates its occupants from breeze and tyre noise, and the overall discretion of the drivetrain while you’re now not on it, the Octavia RS is truly first-rate.
What do you get?
Australian specifications for the 2025 Skoda Octavia RS ‘Mk4.5’ hasn’t been prepared in stone but, however the pre-facelift vehicle used to be generously provided – if nonetheless able to being fitted with some pricey and fascinating choices – and we’d be expecting the similar of the up to date fashion.
One of the crucial highlights would be the Matrix LED headlights with the ‘Crystallinium’ detailing, which means that the ones pristine daylight working lamps up entrance, that includes signatures that jag sharply unwell to border the condition of the radiator grille.
This one detail goes to be one of the simplest ways for an fanatic to in an instant spot they’re shopping on the 195kW RS and now not the impaired fashion. Our Eu-spec verify automobile used to be fitted with a wealth of stuff as usual, which we’ve defined beneath.
Skoda Octavia RS highlights:
- 13-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation
- Wi-fi Smartlink for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 10.25-inch virtual software aggregate
- 19-inch ‘Elias’ anthracite alloy wheels
- Aluminium pedals
- Cloudy headlining
- Cloudy vRS sports activities upholstery with crimson sewing
- Twin-zone air-conditioning
- Electrical sliding parcel shelf (wagon)
- Electrically adjustable and scorching door mirrors
- Entrance and rear parking sensors with manoeuvre help
- Entrance scorching seats
- Complete LED Matrix headlights with AFS (adaptive entrance shiny gadget)
- Keyless access and inactive get started/ban
- LED ambient lighting fixtures
- LED rear lighting fixtures with animated signs
- Brightness and raindrops sensor
- Ambitious dynamic guidance
- Rear privateness glass
- Sports activities suspense (15mm not up to usual Octavia)
- 3-spoke leather-based sports activities multifunction guidance wheel with paddles for DSG
- VAQ electronically managed limited-slip differential
- Digital Pedal
To peer how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the contest, take a look at our comparison tool
Is the Skoda Octavia preserve?
This era of Skoda Octavia picked up a complete five-star ANCAP protection score when assessed for the 2021 fashion 12 months, and we’d be expecting the up to date RS to be disagree much less keep than that.
Sturdy rankings for grownup occupant coverage (92 in line with cent) and kid occupant coverage (87 in line with cent) have been reinforced by way of forged performances in each protection help (79 in line with cent) and prone street person coverage (73 in line with cent).
Once more, the checklist beneath is what used to be suited to our Eu-spec Octavia RS, and we’d hope for one thing widely indistinguishable in automobiles for Australia.
Same old protection apparatus contains:
- Aimless spot detection
- Curtain and front-side airbags
- Motive force-knee airbag
- e-Name and pro-active products and services
- Entrance help (self reliant disaster braking)
- 3 Isofix positions (entrance passenger seat, outer two rear seats)
- Lane help plus with slender lane help and concrete evasive guidance aid
- Predictive cruise regulate with visitors jam help
- Tyre-pressure tracking
How a lot does the Skoda Octavia value to run?
Skoda Australia’s magnificient seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guaranty is delivered to undergo at the Octavia RS, as it’s on each and every alternative fashion the corporate sells.
| Working prices | Skoda Octavia RS |
|---|---|
| Guaranty | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 8 years, 105,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years, 105,000 kilometres |
Skoda’s servicing bundle is connected to roadside help. For those who go for the capped-price seven-year, 105,000km bundle together with your pristine Octavia, next each and every age you’re taking it in for carrier you get every other 365 days of roadside help.
One fast be aware referring to our on-test gasoline intake of 13.1L/100km. That used to be beneath some closing and extended duress, the likes of which you’re not going so that you can mirror anyplace in Australia outdoor a racetrack. A extra consultant and sedate force the after week within the RS liftback returned a much more appropriate 8.9L/100km.
To peer how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the contest, take a look at our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Pull at the Skoda Octavia
We now have a couple of minor reservations in regards to the 195kW Skoda Octavia RS, however just a few. There are extra outright thrilling sizzling hatches to be had; there are some front-drive traction problems on the ragged edge; the top of a handbook transmission choice globally is a embarassment; and it might most certainly do with the ‘Smart Dials’ from its larger Admirable and Kodiaq siblings.
On the other hand, none of those ‘issues’ are in any respect dealbreakers, and past that we’re now not certain what extra it’s essential to need from an on a regular basis efficiency vehicle than what the original Octavia RS delivers.
It’s speedy, confident, at ease, sensible, excellent to take a look at, pretty to take a seat in, and simply in most cases incredible in all regards. The 2025 updates have merely sleek what used to be already a glittering, speedy street vehicle within the first playground.
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